I Will Go My Way

[acceptedlife]

Who: [AU] Repliku and you~
When: August 1st -> the whole month
Where: Dream Width (Aug 1st only), Arito library
What: Takeshi finds a thing and gets to work.
Warnings/Notes: None yet.

I. An Innocent Item Retrieval... (Dream Width, 8/1) (locked to Futaba Sakura and Takashi Shirogane)

[Takeshi didn't get notifications that they found something of his. It just didn't happen after the blade that now is always strapped to his forearm, hidden under his sleeve. He went nearly three full months without so much as a peep of something showing up.

He couldn't help but wonder what did. It's not that he owned much in his life. The houses he'd lived in were loans to lodge the displaced that were free of chargedue to what they as Heroes were supposed to do. The bed, the furnishings, even the appliances weren't really his. He had maybe four different items that he deemed worth missing: a red crystalline heart that he'd received his first Starlight there, two snowmen dolls, and a good luck charm his mother had given him. He couldn't think of anything else off the top of his head.]

Wonder what it could be. [He mutters to the two he asked to come with him. Mostly because he knows his tendencies to go down memory lane. One already had a small taste of the shit he'd been through, and the other was aware there was some he carried on his shoulders.] Didn't exactly have much.

II. Back to the Books (Curti Center; 8/2, onward)
[It isn't long after they land again that Takeshi books it to the libraries with the intel he received, leaving a brief message on the network after closing the room to the private study room in the far back.]

Of all the things to get back...

[He mutters, going through the pages again and again. If he closes his eyes, he can still see the faces of those mentioned within. But, he's no artist. He doesn't stand a chance of getting them more accurate than these stupid bunny sketches.

Time to get to work. He has some time before the airship he'll be taking to Arito arrives. May as well use it.

If anyone pokes in, they might catch a glimpse of him going to check a few shelves with a handful of pages and a notebook, heading back to the same study room with a book or two.]

III. What's Taking Breaks? (Arito; 8/3, onward)

[There was one problem that he inherited from the creator he barely remembers beyond a few glimpses, it was his inability to put down a project until it was done. As it is, it's likely very obvious that he's lost in the papers he's writing on, glimpsing at the pages next to him and the childish sketches once in a while as he worked.

An hour passes, and soon, two. He barely moves save to flick a wrist when it starts to get stiff and the scratches on the paper. Three hours...

Someone remind him that he needs to eat.]

IV. Work Called... (Yun'Ashia; 8/12, onward)

[The absolute worst thing (in Takeshi's mind) is standing still in one place. He never was good at it, especially when his mind is elsewhere. When the owners called, saying he'd been given enough time to "visit with the newcomers at the Center", he went back.

Which is also probably why the owner of this particular items and weapons shop is likely left surprised one morning to see each and every weapon polished to the point where metal cast a fine reflection, wooden staves and rods shone slightly with their new polish. Perhaps one was simply interested in looking at what this small shop has to offer, and you catch him polishing a particular blade. Or, maybe he's staring out the window, not really seeming to see anything until approached.]

Can I help you with something?

[He'd apologize, but his mind might just be elsewhere. Not only on the papers he left in his pack by his feet behind the counter, but needing to find a place to stay. The new recruits would be fine if he transferred elsewhere, he's sure of it.]

V. Wildcard
[ooc: Need to poke Takeshi, the Replica formerly known as Ira for something other than what's listed? Feel free!]

Comments

[promiselisting]

[ She's still... honestly kind of surprised she got invited. Or maybe not, considering they were going back into the Dream Width, and what she'd seen there last time. Which... frankly is a heavy, uncomfortable reminder all of its own, the weight of it hanging off her like the mythical Obariyon. Neither of their experiences had been fun. Neither of them she really wanted to remember much, or repeat. But a friend needed her, so. So. Here she is.

His words don't help the mood, much, if her grimace is anything to go by. She's not. Good at the comfort thing. Hasn't been. Isn't sure she ever will be. But. ]

Probably something important.

[ Because she... she knows, honestly. Before Sojiro'd finally managed to wrest custody from her uncle, and she'd been passed around all her relatives, she hadn't been able to take much with her. Move after move after move, you only really managed to keep what mattered. Things that you made sure to never lose, or leave behind, or whatever else might try to separate you from them. ]

[spaceforged]

We'll get some idea based on the size of the nebula. [Shiro says from where he stands with his helmet under one arm. Clad in his Voltron armor, he keeps watch with a neutral expression on his face. He's gone back into the dream width repeatedly and it never stops making him worry.

Answers and memories lie out there.]

Whatever it is, we'll get it.

[acceptedlife]

[Takeshi nods, leaning against the wall as he glances to Futaba. He caught that grimace, and smiles faintly. A small effort to reassure her that he didn't mean it in a bad way. He just didn't really own much because he knew that, like all "Heroes" back then, there was a chance he could simply crystallize and never wake up.

Okay that probably wouldn't help her calm down any, so he keeps that tidbit to himself.]

Right, [He sighs.] Problem is, most of the items I had were things you could hold onto with one hand. ...Save clothes that probably don't fit me anymore.

Stupid sudden growth spurts in stasis.

[promiselisting]

[ That... was probably wise, Takeshi. Although her point kind of still stands. If you knew you could lose everything at a moment's notice, the stuff you kept would still be... well. Yeah.

Moving on. ]

So they'll probably be tricky to find. [ Reason number fifty-something wishes she had Necronomicon back ] Does the size of the nebula change based on the object you get?

[ She's only gotten a couple items from here, and neither were very big... both around the same size actually, though very different otherwise. ]

[spaceforged]

[Stasis? He resolves to ask about that later. His eyebrow raises and lowers without his expression changing.]

I believe it does. When Hunk and I retrieved his Lion, the nebula was massive. I believe they said the same thing about the Black Lion. The speeder was...also in the larger range.

[He can't remember what the size of the Pj one was. Only that Hunk was pretty sour about it.]

[acceptedlife]

[He has his brief moments of clarity where he doesn't just barrel in full-throttle, yeah.]

Meanwhile when I got this- [Takeshi lifts the sleeve on his left arm, showing the bracer that held the hidden blade to them.] It was relatively small.

[So there's a precedence for it already. He smooths out the sleeve over it again, shrugging.]

[promiselisting]

The Nebulas that my clothes and laptop came in weren't too big either.

[ Not compared to the ones with people in them at least, which were the only other frame of reference she personally had. ]

So it looks like it's mainly a size thing so far. [ hm ] ... should I be keeping notes about this too?

[ How many topics of notes does she have running concurrently now. Actually she's kind of fallen behind on working on those. Too busy trying to convert the aforementioned laptop. ]

III.

[hatejakku]

[ Finn had been... considering school. It was something he was interested in back home between surviving the First Order and joining the Resistance. Mostly, he just wanted to clear his galactic history up. The school in Arito couldn't help him with that.

But it was still such an interesting concept that he found himself visiting the city a lot. Living right there in Nakagawa made the journey a pleasant one.

He had been chatting back and forth with Valli about the merits of going to college for the last few weeks, so he was spending a long time in the library today, pouring over their materials and trying to make a really firm decision on what to do. That was how he noticed the other guy doing his own work. The thing is Finn already left and came back twice before he realized that this guy hadn't moved from his spot.

Finn debated bothering him and asking if he was okay, but that also seemed pretty rude. So he settled for taking another book off of a shelf... only to accidentally take about eight of them off. The clatter of books was loud enough to wake the dead in this silent space, so he looked up to the other guy in there, face burning.

So much for not being rude. ]

[acceptedlife]

[Welcome to the club, Finn. Mostly because of a friend of his had begun prodding him towards it as well.

Takeshi looks up, startled at the loud noise as his gaze follows where he heard- oh. Just a clutz. Okay. Sweet darkness, that was a shock.]

Are... you alright?

[hatejakku]

Yeah. [ Finn tries to hurriedly put a few books back only to have them fall again. He gives up for a second. ]

Sorry, um. Didn't mean to bother you. Are you okay? Everything okay?

[ He's not usually like this. It's fine. ]

[acceptedlife]

[...

Takeshi can't help it; he chuckles to himself before getting up to help the guy clean up the mess he made. At least until he asks if he's alright.

He blinks, looking at the time on his iMog. Oh. He's been at this for hours. Oops.]

Yeah, I'm fine. Guess I just got too focused on what I was working on and lost track of time.

[hatejakku]

[ Finn also manages to put a few books back without destroying everything, woohoo. ]

Thanks for the help. If you don't mind me asking, what were you working on?

[acceptedlife]

[It's a small, small miracle. Whoo~

He pauses at the question, handing Finn the last book.] Completing something I found in the Dream Width recently. It wasn't finished by the original writer.

III.

[piume]

[ Having spent the past few days assisting with another wave of arrivals, Lean is unable to respond to Takeshi’s invite right away - as soon as an opportunity presents itself, however, he hops onto the first airship headed home to make a stop in Arito.

Though summer break might be in full bloom, that doesn’t stop him from wearing his uniform for the occasion. Partially out of respect for the unspoken dress code, but mostly out of habit and for his own convenience. After all, when it comes to the city of scholars, robes will always be one’s best camouflage.

The library brings back memories - even if it hasn’t been that long since he stopped frequenting it. For that reason, he locates the right section almost immediately, quietly approaching the otherworlder’s table. ]

I hope I’m not interrupting.

[acceptedlife]

[That was fine. Takeshi had gone from having three housemates in the Center, to none, to suddenly an almost-full house himself. While he'd been looking for permanent lodging, this has been eating at his free time.

By the time Lean is able to respond to the invite he'd given, he'd completed his notes to add to the report he'd regained: As I said earlier, Kalki was not dead like many thought she was. When Kalki disappeared-

His pen stops when he hears footsteps approaching him, and the white mage looks up when he's addressed.]

Not at all. [He gestures to the empty seat across from him.] Glad you could make it.

[piume]

[ Not even trying to be nosy, Lean involuntarily glances down at the outstretched sheet of paper, recognising the name that stirred up so many emotions within his chest. For a person he’s seen only once in his life, let alone inside of a dream, Kalki had sure left quite an impression. ]

Thanks. [ Smiling lightly, he slings his bag over the back of the chair before taking his seat.

... What is small talk. ]

What have you got?

[acceptedlife]

[He doesn't mind. After all, he was planning to share this with them all soon enough. Nor does he mind them skipping any of the small talk. In fact, Lean might have done himself a favor for doing so.]

Figured you'd want to hear from one of the Heroes yourself.

[He pulls out a copy from his bag that he's already made of the report for when the guy showed up. Takeshi offers it to Lean.]

This is a complete copy of the report I retrieved from the Dream Width. It was written and illustrated by two of ours before our big confrontation with Garland back on Crystallis. [There's a note of something hidden behind that, but... he quickly brushes it aside. Facts now, nostalgia later.] And before you ask: No, I have no idea what Rukia's fascination with rabbits was about and why she chose them in particular. Never got to ask.

[piume]

[ The mention of Heroes brings a glint to Lean’s eyes, but the young man doesn’t say anything until Takeshi is done explaining. While it would be easy to start asking questions here and now, for his mind is filled with questions before he even has the chance to peruse the retrieved file, he dutifully accepts it, hoping to find the answers inside.

What he does find is... a bunch of illustrations of rather questionable quality (forgive him, Rukia), which do not manage to fill him with too much optimism as to what to what to expect next. Glancing at Takeshi with a furrowed brow, he finally understands his companion’s warning. He’s likewise clueless as to why anyone would choose rabbits - wouldn’t Chocobos be more suitable for the task? Anyway.... ]

Interdimensional Rift... Crystals...-

[ He reads out loud, immediately remembering his conversation with one of the newest arrivals, realising there had been more depth to it than he realised. But it’s not just this one name that catches his attention. The further in he goes, muttering under his nose as if trying to commit everything to memory, the more his expression darkens. The young man eventually pauses upon reaching the retelling of Aqures’ Tosf’s fall, tapping his finger against the paper’s surface. ]

I saw it in my dream. The laboratories, the room filled with crystal statues, some of which... I recognised. In the midst of it, stood the Goddess of Death, but none of us were able to reach her.

[acceptedlife]

[YES. THANK YOU. He hated Chocobos (rather, he was terrified of them for the longest time) and even he thought they would be more appropriate! He's patient as he waits, mostly because he continues to write what he was working on before he forgets what he was going to say in his notes before Lean arrived.

He looks up again when Lean speaks of a dream. Even back home, his original home, dreams weren't something to look over or dismiss. Not to mention, while he wasn't there himself... he couldn't discount what another told him.]

Many of us were sent into the past and crystallized. While I myself wasn't one of them, my sister was summoned to Crystallis by who you refer to as the Goddess of Death to "protect" us while we were frozen in time inside the crystal. [He glances down at the table.] If what you witnessed in that dream is what I think it is, those were my former comrades.

Sparks Golsaucia

[shinra_dog]

[A small moogle voice could be heard yelling for Reno after Takeshi rang the bell. A moment later Reno answered with a smile.]

I am not your servant, Reno, I am your accountant...

I know, I know, I got it -- here, look, be happy. It's the responsible one.

[He gave Takeshi a wink as he stepped back and invited the other man inside. Sohma looked a bit puffed up but did seem to calm down to see who the visitor was.]

[acceptedlife]

[Takeshi couldn't help but raise an eyebrow when he heard the moogle, giving Reno a Look. It's a sad, sad day when it's him that's the responsible one. Sad, but true (here's looking at you, Bonnie).]

Hey. [He says, adjusting a now much heavier back pack (thanks, Dad) on his shoulder before moving in when invited. He waves to Sohma politely as his own poor moogle carries a bag in herself. Once the door's closed, he sets it down to retrieve one of two manila envelopes, handing it to Reno. Inside he'll find the report Jade and Rukia worked on, along with his own completed notes.]

This was in the Dream Width. Other than Kenichi, only three know it exists at the moment.

[shinra_dog]

[Fascinating. How these things came to different worlds was always mysterious, even when it was somehow brought by a "god." But these notes couldn't have come at a better time. At least they were useful, Reno thought, unlike the monster under his bed...]

[He should probably warn Takeshi about that...]

[But it was the follow-up that interested Reno more than the notes.]

You, myself, and...?

[acceptedlife]

[Yes, it would probably be a very good idea to warn him about that monster under the bed. It can wait, though.]

The two who came with me to retrieve it: Futaba Sakura, the girl who's been keeping notes on all we know, and Shiro. The third is Lean Fende, but he hasn't seen it yet.

[He's been very careful as to who learns about it. With the network likely compromised, he's been working on finishing copies for roughly eighty people on his own. Physical copies.]

The two who came with me are interested in working with us. Though they have their own teams to be concerned about.

[In other words: he's made contacts with the others like them and is working on at least one of the natives in the Center. Free sharing of information will likely be vital soon.]

[shinra_dog]

[Reno nodded as he listened. He remembered Futaba's name from the network and her notes. Lean he didn't know.]

Shiro... He's friendly with Noctis' group, isn't he?

[He vaguely remembered hearing the name, but didn't know the man himself. So far, he approved of Takeshi taking non-Assassins with him to the Dream Width, assuming the worst happened. But clearly he would take others that he trusted to help him. So Reno was interested in hearing more.]

What teams are those, kupo? [Sohma piped up.] You've told them about us?

[acceptedlife]

He is, yes. [It was part of why he trusted him enough to say anything in the first place. Another reason was because he recognized the earnestness in his gaze and desire to help was confirmed about as true as anything could ever be.]

Let me preface that with a warning: until Bonnie learns not to blab about us, we don't say a word about theirs. While I hate doing so, it was a request from them personally. There are people from their universes who would hunt them down if they knew they were here.

I don't know all their names. Not all of them from both groups are on Vaikuntha, and I don't know yet if more showed up from their worlds but I'm keeping an eye on the network in case there are. [He crosses his arms.] The team Shiro's a part of is called Voltron. From what I've gathered they're some sort of galactic defense squad back home. Currently present members are just him and Hunk to my knowledge, though more might have showed up with the new wave of arrivals. I've met both; they're decent folk though I have yet to trust Hunk with the information of our existence.

Futaba is a part of the Phantom Thieves. They're similar to us, but they never kill. I haven't asked how that works just yet because finding out more info on our current situation is more important. Currently present members are Ren, Makoto, and herself. The fourth, Morgana, is grayed out on the contacts list.

[He looks to Sohma.] Only Shiro and Futaba know about us, and even then, it is the basic info: we exist, and we do not kill innocents. The first the entire mognet likely knows if they lurk like I do, with how Bonnie blew that secret out of the water.